History
Belize’s documented history dates back to an era when Mayan societies spread across the Americas. Sacred temples and other existing artifacts give an in depth look at the Mayan civilizations that were in Belize roughly from A.D. 250 up until the 17th century.
European conquest (mainly by the Spanish who claimed sovereignty over the “New World”) led to the decline of the Maya and had a direct effect on the nation post colonialism. By the early 1600’s, Belize became a settlement for pirates, discarded British soldiers and seamen who made a living harvesting logwood for dye exportation. This quickly gained the attention of the neighboring Spanish colonies and British voyagers.
A series of conflict ensued between Britain and Spain in the following century which led to the historic events that characterize the Belize of today:
- 1763 Treaty of Paris (Allowing British settlers to cut logwood for trade)
- 1783 Treaty of Versailles (Affirmed the territorial boundaries for cutting logwood)
- 1786 Convention of London (Extended the boundaries affirmed in the Treaty of Versailles)
- 1798 Battle of St. George’s Caye (The final battle for sovereignty between the British and Spanish wherein the British won)
- 1871 Colonization (“British Honduras” becomes an official English Colony – The Crown Colony system was introduced)
- 1954 Universal adult suffrage
- 1964 Self Government
- 1973 Change in name (British Honduras became Belize)
- 1981 Belize Gained its Independence
People
Present day Belize hosts a variety of ethnic groups who inhabit different zones of the country. Four of these ethnic groups are native to Belize; three of which originated from mixed descents that resulted from colonization.
Maya
Present day Belize hosts a variety of ethnic groups who inhabit different zones of the country. Four of these ethnic groups are native to Belize; three of which originated from mixed descents that resulted from colonization.
Mestizo
The Mestizo come from a mix of Spanish and Maya lineage and make up the largest subgroup of Belize (representing about 48% of the population). Mestizos are prevalent in the northern districts of Corozal and Orange Walk, and Cayo to the West. A growing number of Mestizos have migrated from neighboring regions to Belize, however, their religious and cultural practices remain true to that of their ancestors.
Creole
Initially originating from African and British ancestry, the Creole of today consist of a much wider mixture of ethnicities. After colonization the Creoles made up the majority of Belize’s population which explains the practices, foods, music and other features that still characterize the country today. Creole Belizeans mainly live in the Belize District especially Belize City, however many have migrated to various other districts throughout the country.
Garifuna
The Garifuna are the most deeply rooted in African ancestry of all the ethnic groups. Their lineage consists of West African, Arawak and Island Carib genes. The Garifuna first landed in Belize in November of 1802 and have made the Southern Districts of Stann Creek and Toledo their permanent settlement. Garifuna music, clothes, religion, foods, etc. have all been inherited from their African history and are still kept alive today.
Other non-native inhabitants of Belize include:
- Mennonites
- East-Indians
- Asians
- Indians
- Middle Easterners
Language
The official language of Belize is English, however the cultural diversity in the region has led to the adaptation of many dialects. The most common of these is the Kriol (Belizean Creole) language which is spoken by all natives. Other languages that can be heard are:
- Spanish – By Mestizos
- Garifuna – By Garifuna
- Q’eqchi, Mopan and Yucatec Maya – By Maya
- Mandarin – By Asians
- German – By Mennonites
Geography
Belize is a tropical region consisting of six districts that make up Northern, Central, Western and Southern Belize:
- Northern: Corozal & Orange Walk
- Central: Belize
- Western: Cayo
- Southern: Stann Creek & Toledo
Its geography is heavily influenced by dense rain forests which cover nearly 50% of the country. The terrain is divided into various regions such as the Maya Mountains, the Northern lowlands, the Southern highlands, the coastal plain and numerous cayes, rivers and lagoons that both surround and run through the area.
Other noteworthy physical features of Belize include the Barrier Reef (second only to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia at 180 miles long), the Blue Hole (407 ft deep), Doyle’s Delight (Belize’s highest point standing at 3,688 ft) the Macal River (Belize’s longest river at 200 miles) and the Caracol Ruins (containing Belize’s largest Maya Ruin at 180 ft tall).
Bordering the nation north to North-West is Mexico, West to South-West is Guatemala and the eastern coastline is met by the Caribbean Sea.
Climate
Two seasons known as the rainy and dry seasons dictate Belize’s climate. From December to early June most districts experience periods of lower rainfall (i.e. the dry season). Toledo however is the only exception and can begin to experience an increase in rain as early as May.
The remaining districts experience increased rainfall from June to November, and precipitation levels vary from 60 inches of mean annual rainfall in the north to 160 inches of mean annual rainfall in the south.
The dry season can be split into two periods of cooler weather from November to February and a warmer and dryer period from March to May. Typically, mean temperature varies from 81°F/ 27°C along the coast to 69°F/21°C in the hills. Inland temperatures can be more extreme during the year with mean temperatures of 88.3°F/31.3°C to 68.9°F/20.5°C
Currency
The official currency of Belize is the Belize Dollar (BZD)
Exchange Rates:
USD to BZD: 1=2.02
CAD to BZD: 1=1.51
EUR to BZD: 1=2.21
£ to BZD: 1=2.60
MXN to BZD: 1=0.11
Getting Around
There are multiple transit systems in place to access all areas of Belize including the Cayes located off the mainland. Both locals and tourists can opt to travel via land, air and sea to their desired destinations. The commonly used forms of transportation include municipal flights, water taxis, private shuttles, buses, taxis and car rentals.
